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As Kevin Randall, a sports card dealer from Central Massachusetts, prepared for Fanatics Fest in New York City, he packed some of his most prized Tom Brady cards, hoping to make a splash at the event. Little did he know, he was about to experience a moment that would become the highlight of his career.

“We had this running joke,” Randall recalls. “We heard Brady might be there, so we thought, wouldn’t it be great if he actually stopped by?”

To Randall’s surprise, that joke became reality when Tom Brady himself visited Randall’s booth. The legendary quarterback not only stopped to chat but also engaged in a conversation with the collector about baseball cards, the preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles, and even the evolution of Brady’s autograph.

The memorable exchange was captured on camera, forever preserving Randall’s brush with greatness. “This weekend was absolutely incredible,” Randall said. “Thank you @Topps and @Fanatics for capturing this moment, and a huge thank you to @TomBrady for coming by our booth and impacting my life and my family’s lives in such a meaningful way.” The video, which has since gone viral, was even shared by Brady on his Instagram story.

“Just this morning, my phone was blowing up,” Randall said. “I guess Brady shared it on his social media, and I’ve just been along for the ride.”

Randall, who lives in Central Massachusetts with his family and serves as the head coach of the Burrillville High School boys basketball team in Rhode Island, has been passionate about collecting cards since he was five years old. “I remember my parents taking me to the card shop on Fridays to buy a pack or two,” he shared, a tradition he now continues with his own son, Grayson.

While Randall remains the head basketball coach at Burrillville, he left his teaching job a few years ago to pursue selling cards full-time. Known in the card-collecting community as “the Brady Guy,” Randall has built a strong brand, DaCaptain37—named after his old college-era AOL screen name. His wife, Melissa Randall, has been instrumental in helping him establish a social media presence and support his dream.

Randall’s collection includes several rare and valuable Tom Brady cards, such as a 2000 Fleer Showcase rookie card and a 2002 Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor. However, the decision to sell or keep certain cards is always a tough one. “It really pulls at the heartstrings sometimes,” Randall said, describing his business as a “college fund” for his two children.

Meeting Tom Brady was a career-defining moment for Randall, who described the former Patriots quarterback as “genuine and authentic.” He chuckled as he recalled Brady introducing himself. “Like Tom Brady would ever need to introduce himself,” Randall said. “Then he asked, ‘What have you got for me today?’ He stayed and talked with us for about 10 minutes.”

During their conversation, Brady shared insights into his autograph’s history. “He told me that during his rookie year, he modeled his autograph after his father’s signature, but over time, he made it his own,” Randall explained. “He even tried incorporating a number 12 inside the ‘B’ of his last name. Once you see it, you can’t unsee the 12.”

In the now-viral video, Brady can be heard saying, “Insane. You’ve got a great collection here,” clearly impressed by Randall’s array of cards. Brady left with several items from Randall’s booth, including a card autographed by both Brady and Joe Montana, as well as others signed by quarterbacks Drake Maye, Anthony Richardson, and Caleb Williams.

As “the Tom Brady guy,” Randall’s upcoming trading season is packed with events, including the Causeway Card Show at TD Garden in September. For those interested in learning more about Randall and his collection, his Instagram and Flickr accounts offer a closer look at his impressive catalog of cards.